Harry Owens

Harry Owens ( born April 18, 1902 in O'Neill, Nebraska, † December 12, 1986 in Eugene ) was an American composer. Owens -known work is the song Sweet Leilani from the soundtrack to Waikiki Wedding. Owens Award for the song with the Oscar.

Life and work

Owens learned in his youth Cornet and first studied law, but abandoned his studies without a degree. His first involvement in the film industry was the film The Jazz King in 1930. Four years later, Owens took over as musical director of the Orchestra of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. Then Owens first daughter Leilani was born in Hawaii, for which he wrote the lullaby Sweet Leilani. With the hotel orchestra, he played the song at the evening dances. One evening was Bing Crosby among the guests. Crosby was preparing to film Waikiki Wedding and was Owens song about Leilani so excited that he suggested it Paramount Pictures for the film. The song made ​​it into the film, was sung by Bing Crosby in 1938 and won the Oscar for " Best Song ". The song was highly successful and became Crosby's first publication, which skipped the mark of 1 million sales.

Owens was then hired as a composer for the film Cocoanut Grove with Fred MacMurray. He wrote three songs for the soundtrack and appeared in a small role as a band leader "Hula Harry ".

Published in 1957 with his orchestra Owens Harry Owens & His Royal Hawaiian Orchestra Album Voice Of The Tradewinds.